Coffee and a Beatle join forces... Paul McCartney joins Starbuck's new Hear record label
seehttp://www.businessweek.com
entitled "Latte questions for Starbucks' Execs." The expansion of a bean juice purveyor into media is not as novel as it sounds. Starbuck's is merely formalizing (and monetizing) the long established connection between social hangouts and art. Case in point: Canter's Deli in LA. My trip to LA last week included breakfast at the time-honored Canter's Deli. http://www.cantersdeli.com During the hey day of the '50's and '60's, Canter's on Fairfax Avenue was frequented by many of the biggest artists in the music biz. An ambiance for creativity cradled in a social context of good food and a place to enjoy it. If one reads more about the Starbuck's meeting this week, one will find a concern over the dangers of size- the loss of the essence of that delicate sense of the coffee shop as a venue, instead of a mere provider of bean juice. It was a struggle after General Mill's acquired Bill Galt's creation, Good Earth Restaurant. Bill had a "feel" - California clean and wholesome - that was created by details down to the server's studied casual polo shirt and khaki cotton slacks. The big question was whether the "feel" could be preserved and delivered consistently when the Good Earth expanded to a large and profitable chain. Starbuck's may be suffering a bit from staffer ennui- it take more than bean juice to invite folks to "hangout". Last week Canter's waitperson called us by name (I am there once a month and still she knows me) and made sure we knew we could get the potato pancakes (not listed on the printed breakfast special) and did not charge us for the apple sauce and sour cream. OK, Paul McCartney is not on their record label, but ummm ummm - such a deal!
